Upgraded Living — January 2021

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FROM THE EDITOR Plus one—the kind of phrase that emotes joy, smiles, and sometimes welcome relief. The young man in a new suit and tie turns to the woman at the wedding guestbook and says with a joyful smile, “I’m her plus one!” Any true baker whipping up a batch of cookies will shape 12 cookies plus one, known as a baker’s dozen. This brings a smile to his face as well as the ones who partake in the other 12. Our calendar added the number one to our four digit year with the promise of maintaining that position. The number of American presidents gained another plus one with new opportunities.

Here at the magazine, we turned a featured page from one to another. We have spent the past two-plus years featuring a teacher each month. We are shifting the feature to first responders and frontline workers. We are excited as this just seems right. Our initial candidate is Abby Flenner, a firefighter from Chico Firehouse #1 who claims she has the best job in the world. She steers the back of the hook and ladder engine.

Hard to argue that claim.

We are equally excited about our cover story highlighting what we have named our Diamonds, Drive Ins, & Dives. We selected a baker's dozen of different establishments across the region and, frankly, are psyched to share them with you.

Hopefully the title gets your mind conjuring the possibilities that fit your definition of each. We may confirm, surprise, or disappoint you. As I have always said about these things, our list may not be your list, and that’s ok. In the end, the read and pictures will both delight and, possibly, educate you a bit about the glorious surroundings we reside in. Our monthly music page features a Chico native, Benny Bassett, who is Melanie’s son. His story is so uplifting and unexpected, and his music is awesome. Once you read the article, go straight to his website and take a listen. You will not regret that move or his groove.

My trusted boss and good friend, Aveed, informed me that from now on, we are going to call the backpage what it is— The Backpage. At least a couple of things get cleared up as it becomes a single word and is now a proper noun. I do rejoice to think some three years later, this one request I had upon taking this job has become a thing. It opens the New Year not with a list of resolutions but rather with a personal letter of sorts to my family, friends, and readers admitting I do not understand more than I understand, have been in a certain mood lately, and end by sharing my favorite writer's quote. I hope it delights you as much as it delighted me to write it.

UPGRADED LIVING STAFF AVEED KHAKI Publisher/Owner KEVIN DOLAN Editor-in-Chief

JASON CORONA

SHELLY BRANDON

Sales Director

Writer

NERISSA QUINN

TIM MILHORN

Production Director

Writer

DARREN MICHELS

FRANK REBELO

Product Integration & Mobility Strategy

Photographer MICHELLE CAMY Photographer

CONTRIBUTORS DOUG LOVE

SWEENEY & MICHEL

Real Estate

Finance

HRiQ

DERM BAR

Human Resources

Beauty

ABBY FLENNER Let's Get to the Nine-One-One

Happy New Year!

For editorial or general magazine inquiries, please contact: Kevin Dolan, 530.894.8091 kevin@upgradedliving.com

Kevin Dolan Editor-in-Chief

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For sales inquiries, please contact: Jason Coronoa, 530.591.2634 Sales@UpgradedLiving.com

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CONTENTS | JANUARY 2021 COMMUNITY

FEATURE

10 Meet Cool Kid, Marvin Stelle, who has spent the last couple years setting up a walnut stand to raise funds for a school trip to Scotland.

32 We are stoked to present our ambitious cover story featuring what we have dubbed as “Diamonds, DriveIns, & Dives.” Come along for a fun and fact-filled look at what’s out there in our vast community!

14 We kick off a new monthly feature introducing first responders and frontline workers. You will enjoy meeting Abby Flenner, a Chico firefighter.

15 Down Range demystifies the myths behind their expansive facility on Garner Lane in Chico.

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42 December 7th is a date filled with anxiety for seniors. Passages HICAP helps explain what it really means and how to navigate signing up for Medicare.

47 Our Editor-in-Chief discovers The Backpage gets a permanent name and shares his misunderstandings and mood with his readers.

HEALTH

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18 Jennie Wolfe, of Microblading Chico, introduces us to a remarkable young lady—Ariana Schweiger, and their new digital microblading service.

20 North Valley Eye Care casts the spotlight on Dr. Justin Holt, a transplant from Utah and a wonderful addition to the Anderson Eye Care staff.

ON THE COVER: DIAMONDS, DRIVE-INS, & DIVES DESIGN BY: ERIK BROWN

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HOME 20 Century 21 Chico's sales manager, Doug Love explains the benefits and effects of the newly approved Proposition 19.

DINNER & A SHOW 12 Learn how our ingredient of the month, spaghetti squash, has the ability to deliver the look and flavor of some of our favorite entrees.

44 We are delighted to present the musical adventure of a local boy achieving worldwide acclaim.

Meet Benny Bassett.

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WRITTEN BY SHELLY BRANDON | PHOTO PROVIDED BY BGCNV

WALNUTS FOR SCOTLAND Marvin Stelle’s exuberance for life and learning comes through within a few minutes of speaking with him. He is enjoying his time as a freshman at Inspire School of the Arts and Sciences, as the school met many of his needs while pursuing his interests in musical theatre and digital art. Marvin says they are currently working with social distanced learning, where they take one virtual class at a time over a four-week period and then switch to the next class. He says, “It’s different from what I’ve done before, but I’m really enjoying it; plus it’s working out well for me.”

Marvin is looking forward to a school trip to Scotland, planned in 2021. This whirlwind two-week trip will be filled with explorations of Scotland’s theatre world.

In an effort to raise money for this trip, he has been harvesting and selling walnuts.

What began in his grandparents’ kitchen, helping his grandmother shell walnuts for use in her pies and other recipes, has morphed into a fundraising project for Marvin as well as a way to give back to his community. Once the walnuts have been machine harvested at his aunt and uncle’s farm in Biggs, he goes through and picks up the remaining walnuts by hand. He then rinses and dries them in 10

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the sun at his grandparents’ place. Once dry, he’ll crack them with a hand-cranker, shell, sort, and then vacuum pack them into various-sized bags which will keep for up to a year in the freezer.

This is the second year Marvin has sold walnuts. Last year, he gave ten-percent of his proceeds to two families, hit hard by the tragedy of the Camp Fire, to help provide some Christmas happiness. This year, Marvin plans on gifting to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, which his family has attended since before Marvin was born. This desire to help others extends to Marvin’s future plans. Following high school, he would like to work in a 911-dispatch center. Marvin noted, “I always love helping people, and one way I can continue to do that is by being a 911 dispatcher.”

When he’s not working on classwork or processing walnuts, Marvin likes to ride his bike around the park as well as wander around Downtown Chico and get boba teas with friends. If you’re interested in purchasing some of Marvin’s walnuts, give him a call at (530) 685-8255.

You’ll be helping him explore Scotland and better the community through his generous donations!

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WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

Not Your ITalian grandmother's spaghetti So far, the ingredients of the month have featured a “vegetable” that’s really a fruit (Bell pepper), a fruit named after a dragon, a melon that’s not sweet, an artichoke not from Jerusalem, Buddha’s fragrant hand, more peppers—hot ones, and fruit that mimics meat. Now, we are faced with fake spaghetti. As they say, at the time of writing this, “It is 2020.” Do not place blame on me for this wacky lineup. I get an email with each new topic to write, and here we are.

The exciting thing about this month’s subject is, well, not the taste. Spaghetti squash is fairly bland, but that works well later. It’s not chock full of vitamins and minerals, for example, you’d have to eat five pounds to get a full dose of vitamin B6. It’s not difficult to cook, as you can tuck it in the microwave if you’re in a hurry. However, it is FUN! After all, what other vegetable turns into an authentic looking pasta? It’s a great way to get your kids to eat vegetables, because, in a child’s eyes, it’s magic when you turn squash into delicious spaghetti covered with sauce.

The true beauty of spaghetti squash is its ability to take on the flavors of whatever ingredient you add to it. As mentioned above, the mild flavor is perfect as a base to add more flavorful tastes, such as alfredo, carbonara, or marinara. You can also create scampi spaghetti squash boats, baked and stuffed spaghetti squash, or fix up a creamy 12

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spaghetti squash chicken casserole. Its mild flavor lends itself to a variety of clever dishes. All you need to do is add your creativity to the recipe!

Just because spaghetti squash isn’t bursting with flavor, or packed with more vitamins than the Centrum Silver the folks with the same hair color take every day, it does not mean it’s not healthy. This versatile squash is low in carbs, sugar, and fat, but also low in protein. It does have a scattering of B vitamins, with B6 coming in at 8%, B5 (pantothenic acid) at 7%, and B3 (niacin) at 6% of recommended daily values. Manganese and magnesium lead the mineral content at 6% and 3% respectively.

Beta-carotene is also present, especially in orange spaghetti squash, but also available in the ivory and yellow varieties.

The basic cooking method is to cut the squash in half lengthwise. Be careful here— the outside of the squash is quite tough.

Place the squash face-down in a shallow cooking tray, bake for 45 to 60 minutes, let it cool for 15 minutes, and then scoop out the seeds. Take a fork and scrape out the flesh to release the “noodles.” You can then add traditional tomato sauce or anything else that sounds good. I’m thinking a Mexican-style chicken casserole ought to do the trick on a cold night this winter. By the time this arrives in print, we can all enjoy it knowing 2020 is behind us!

Down range: Originally from Tehama County, Steve Dyke joined the local police department in 2008, after 10 years with Corning PD. He was matched with another police officer, Will Clark, a United States Navy SEAL, who joined law enforcement after serving overseas. Passionate about protecting the community, they served on the local S.W.A.T. Team, taking on the area’s most serious crimes and seeing firsthand how the need for protection was not any different regardless of city or country. The one thing they found missing in most cases, however, was proper education.

Over numerous patrol rides, Steve and Will formulated a business plan to fill what they identified as a major gap in our area’s firearm industry. Centered around education, they designed their ideal business—a firearm facility providing the necessities for self-defense and hunters alike, a complete shooting range featuring both 25 and 50-yard options for training, instructors for proper education, and every piece of safety equipment one could imagine. Though lofty for two first-time business owners, Steve and Will were sure they could put the dedication they had honed in the military and law enforcement to good use in making their dreams a reality.

They set out to do just that.

After completing their business plan, Steve and Will spent the next two years securing financing, obtaining the many necessary licenses, and completing construction on their new facility at 13407 Garner Lane in North Chico. In late 2013, after years of

DEMYSTIFYING the myths

work, and many more years of planning, they opened the doors to Down Range Indoor Training Center.

“We were two first-time business owners.”

Steve began, “There were naturally a number of bumps in the road and no shortage of things to learn. Thankfully, we had an overall great response from the public since the day we opened and were shown a lot of support. Of course, we knew there would be some pushback. Coming from law enforcement, we understood there would be preconceived notions about what we were opening. We also knew whether someone likes or hates firearms, anyone with one needs to be properly trained with it, so we decided to focus on that.”

The two began their business venture, attempting to demystify the world of firearms while training owners in proper use and storage. They started with a handful of instructors and courses specific to groups they felt could benefit from training. One of these courses was a ladies-only curriculum built to train women in the use of firearms for self-defense. “There's a stigma that you’re going to be treated differently at a facility like ours if you’re a woman.” Steve mentioned, “As a result, women often avoid the situation altogether, when the training is hugely beneficial. We wanted to break down that barrier and empower women to feel more confident and comfortable with their surroundings.” To further break down those barriers, Down Range offered these ladiesonly classes free-of-charge, as a service to the community.

“In the same mindset, we wanted to ensure anyone with potential access to a firearm was trained on firearm safety.” Steve continued, “This is especially important for kids living in homes where firearms might be present. Though firearms should always be properly stored, it’s important to make sure that anyone who may ever come into contact with one is well-trained on how to operate when they do.” To further this commitment, Down Range offers classes for novices to veteran gun owners and hunters alike. Since they opened, the program has grown from a handful of instructors and a short list of classes to a comprehensive curriculum taught by 31 instructors.

To help make training as easily accessible as possible, Down Range offers low-cost membership packages as well. Their $29.99/month membership provides unlimited use of the range, rentals, a 10% discount on training, and a 5% discount on non-firearm purchases; their $49.99/month membership offers the same, plus unlimited classes, 50% off private instruction, and 10% off non-firearm purchases.

Most recently, Down Range expanded their business to better supply other first responders in the area by replacing their archery shop with a full uniform shop, including alterations and embroidery. Steve noted, “It was the perfect match for the business. We already offer a huge discount on blue label products to those who protect and serve our communities, but the uniform addition meant we could offer everything as a one-stop shop for emergency personnel.”

Having just celebrated their 7th anniversary, Steve and Will couldn’t be more excited for the future of their business and the service they’ve been able to provide the community.

“We pride ourselves on not being political.”

Steve finished, “This isn’t about politics; it’s about safety. We want to continue to be the place to visit when you have questions about firearm safety or anything firearm related. We also want to make sure the firearms in our community are in the hands of those who can use them safely and for the right reasons.”

For further questions about Down Range’s list of services and offerings, visit them online at www.DownRangeChico.com or call (530) 896-1992.

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One Marshmallow or Two?

BY RENEE MICHEL, MBA, AND JOE SWEENEY, CFP ®, FINANCIAL ADVISORS AT SWEENEY & MICHEL, LLC

There’s a classic one-liner that says training for a marathon can be hard work today, but it'll be good for you in the long run. Although the concept is simple, the message is clear—delaying gratification today leads to a better tomorrow (i.e. diet, exercise, career, wealth, even religion).

Delaying gratification can be hard because we too easily self-sabotage. We treat ourselves with sugar when we’re supposed to diet or we stay up late instead of waking up early. Realistically, we make these tradeoffs in our personal finance too.

Here are the most common ways: 1. We spend more money today and save less for tomorrow.

2. We sell long-term investments to gamble on speculative assets (this is how bubbles happen).

3. We sell long-term diversified portfolios hoping to avoid short-term market drops.

4. We don’t keep a rainy-day fund because it’s either too tempting to spend it or too boring not to invest.

A Stanford researcher in the ’60s created “The Marshmallow Experiment” to prove this concept. He entered a room of 5-year olds and offered the children one marshmallow right away, or two if they waited for him to come back. So, the choice was simple: one treat right now or two treats later.

Naturally, the room was split.

Particularly interesting was how the study progressed over 40 years. The children who were willing to delay ended up having higher SAT scores, lower levels of substance abuse, were physically healthier, had better social skills, and generally better scores in a range of other life measures. You can bet they ended up saving more money as well. Are you willing to delay today, to better your tomorrow?

Renée Michel, MBA and Joe Sweeney, CFP® | 196 Cohasset Road, Suite 100, Chico CA 95926 (530) 487-1777 | renee@sweeneymichel.com | joe@sweeneymichel.com | www.sweeneymichel.com Sources: www.irs.gov; www.ssa.gov; www.medicare.gov | Sweeney & Michel, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser. This brochure is solely for informational purposes. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where Sweeney & Michel, LLC and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Investing involves risk and possible loss of principal capital. No advice may be rendered by Sweeney & Michel, LLC unless a client service agreement is in place.

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At Anderson Eye Care, Dr. Holt has finally been able to spread his bilingual wings. “I have a larger population of native Spanish speakers here.” Dr. Holt said, “It’s so rewarding to see their guards come down as soon as I enter the room and conduct their exam in Spanish. They are able to better explain their issues, and I can provide better treatment as there isn’t a language barrier. Nothing is left to interpretation and they truly feel they are being heard, which makes a massive difference in not only diagnosing the issue, but how completely we can treat it as well.”

Dr. Justin holt Originally from Virginia, Dr. Justin Holt moved to Sandy, Utah with his family when he was 12 years old. As a kid, the move was welcomed, landing him right in the center of recreation as far as the eye could see.

Between cycling, skiing, and track and field, his schedule was full of activity, but it wasn’t until he started weightlifting that he found his true athletic passion.

He enrolled at BYU in Provo, Utah, when it came time for college and, though he was larger than half the football team, thanks to weightlifting, decided to join their cheerleading team instead. The football team ended up ranked fourth, while his cheer squad took second place in the country. During his time at BYU he traveled to Spain for a semester abroad, and fell in love with the country, its people, and culture. The semester stretched into two years, and he returned to the U.S. fluent in Spanish with a newfound appreciation for the diversity of the world around him. He also found his calling in medicine and a passion for optometry.

With the only bi-lingual program in the country, he enrolled in Puerto Rico’s Inter American University to study optometry , determined to one day diagnose and treat Spanish speakers in their native tongue. He 20

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graduated in 2003 and returned to Utah for residency at Salt Lake’s Veterans’ Memorial Hospital before studying at University of Utah Moran Eye Center. It was here that he met another young resident who would later co-found Ridge Eye Care , Dr. Isaac Barthelow.

Dr. Holt worked for the largest optometry and ophthalmology practice in Utah for 10 years before opening his own practice. He ran every facet of his small business for 10 more years before receiving an invitation from Dr. Barthelow to head up a new practice just north of Chico, in Anderson, California. He visited, loved the vibe, and accepted the offer.

“I love working at Anderson Eye Care.” Dr. Holt began, “I’m much more interested in practicing eye care and medicine than running a business, and the move allowed me to finally do just that. I get to focus on patient care and just wear one hat rather than also moonlight as an accountant, HR team, etc. I also really enjoy the community.

The people here are amazingly kind and generous. No disrespect to Utah, but it seems like wherever I am, from the freeways to the office, everyone is just so pleasant and thoughtful. I was really taken aback by it in the beginning.”

In regards to his new workplace, he continued, “In Anderson, we have the latest technology I didn’t have in private practice; not just bells and whistles, but truly sight-saving technology. The earlier we can detect pathology, the sooner we can treat it and make sure things like macular degeneration don’t turn into vision loss.

It’s a very underserved area, and we have a high quantity of patients, but all of our energy is spent on patient care, so we can do considerably more with our time.

Each doctor even spends at least one day at Shasta Community Health Center each month, helping folks that wouldn’t have eyecare otherwise. We aren’t just looking at the bottom line, we’re looking at the patient’s quality of life.”

As a final note, he made sure to mention that truly effective care is more than just one doctor’s work. “Drs. Barthelow and Rudick have both done a great job at putting together a group of providers with the same mentality.” Dr. Holt said, “We don’t take ourselves too seriously, and everyone from the doctors to the staff are friendly and approachable. Patients feel comfortable because of it, and we always get compliments on staff while in the exam rooms. I have to give management all the credit for it. They really found the most amazing individuals.”

Though Dr. Holt loves our non-sub-zero winters, he is still undecided on our summer heatwaves. He encourages anyone with any vision trouble or questions to reach out to any of the Ridge Eye Care offices, including Anderson Eye Care at (530) 365-6471. As he made sure to mention, they would be happy to help.

Loeta Robles, DDS

New Patients Welcomed!

Happy New You! The holidays are over; 2020 is in the rearview mirror. Now is the time to do something nice for yourself, as we are all feeling like we deserve a break after the year we have had! Winter cold, more hours indoors, stress, and post-holiday blues all contribute to dull, dry, or broken-out skin. What can we do to repair our look, as well as our outlook? We could buy a fancy new mask, as it looks like we will be wearing them for a while, or we can address the causes of our skin issues!

Heck, why not do both!

We need to face the New Year with a resolve and commitment to looking better and feeling better. Maintaining a good skincare routine goes a long way towards keeping skin fresh and bacteria-free.

Technology in the skincare field has expanded exponentially in the last 20 years or so, and there are lots of ways to refresh, rejuvenate, and repair your skin. For example, laser treatments can build collagen, resurface rough texture or scarring, repair sun damage, treat rosacea and acne, and improve overall skin health and appearance. Keeping the collagen growing will make the skin cells plumper, smoother, and healthier. We stop making collagen at about 35 years of age, so anything we can do to stimulate its regrowth will give us that strong, glowing, more youthful appearance. The results of laser treatments can be enhanced with the use of products such as Tretinoin (Retin-A) to accelerate cell turnover and stimulate natural exfoliation. Plus, it can shrink the oil glands for those that are acne-prone.

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and a healthy glow, plus it comes in different strengths to address individual skin types.

Serums containing copper peptides, vitamin E, or growth factors can strengthen the skin's support structure and improve elasticity to give skin some "bounce-back" and firmness. Sunscreen is a must at any time of year, with an SPF of 30 to 50 to protect your skincare investment and prevent further damage. Once you have had any bad sunburn, it alters the skin's DNA, and further sun damage will be harder to correct.

For a "quick fix", there is Botox to get rid of frown lines and crow's feet, and you see the results quickly. It takes anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks to work it's way into the muscles that are causing the lines to form.

The family of Juvederm fillers can plump deeper furrows and skin deficits. Recontouring with filler can restore a more youthful shape to aging skin. It can give new contour and lift to cheeks, lips, and chin. As we age, we notice those "jowls" forming, and a combination of filler and laser or radio-frequency treatments can take years off!! We always offer free consultations (by appointment only) and would be happy to recommend a "prevention/correction" plan for your skin's needs! We take an individual approach to treating your specific skin type and needs, so we can give you the best possible results to combine with your athome skincare regimen.

DermBar Med-Spa 530-342-2672 Declaration Dr. Suite 100 | Chico, CA

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Proposition 19 People over 55 years old, wildfire victims, and disabled individuals, listen up! Here’s some critical news from the last election that benefits you in your housing transitions. The California Association of Realtors put out the news when election results rolled in: California voters have approved a new property tax break for homeowners over 55 years of age in California, easing their tax burdens if they move. The election was close. Just over 51% of voters supported Proposition 19 when the Associated Press called the race Wednesday evening, when returns showed the measure had a lead of more than 350,000 votes. “Voters passed Proposition 19 because it is a win-win for California, providing needed housing and tax relief for seniors, wildfire victims, and generating much needed revenue for schools, fire districts, cities, and counties as they face budget shortfalls due to the harmful economic impact of COVID-19,” said Jeanne Radsick, president of the California Association of Realtors, which was the principal supporter of the measure.

The success of Proposition 19 means that those 55 and older will be able to blend the taxable value of their old home with the value of a new, more expensive home they purchase, resulting in property tax savings that could reach thousands of dollars a year.

As part of the measure, children who inherit their parents’ houses will no longer receive a property tax break if they intend to keep it as a second home or rent it out.

Before Proposition 19‘s passage, older homeowners had a one-time opportunity to retain their existing tax benefits if they 28

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moved to a home of equal or lesser value within the same county. They could do the same when moving between certain counties in California. If they didn’t meet those requirements or moved to a more expensive home, they would have had to pay the full amount in property taxes. Now, older homeowners will receive a property tax benefit when they buy a more expensive home anywhere in California—up to three times. Homeowners with disabilities will be able to do the same, and victims of wildfires and other natural disasters will be able to do so after their home is damaged.

Realtors are expected to benefit from increased home sales, both by older homeowners deciding to take advantage of their new tax benefits to move and heirs preferring to sell their parents’ properties rather than pay higher property taxes.

Much of the Realtor-backed campaign for Proposition 19 focused on benefits to wildfire victims and increased funding for wildfire response. But disaster-affected homeowners constitute well under 1% of those eligible for tax relief under Proposition 19, according to an analysis by the California Budget and Policy Center, which found the benefits almost entirely accruing to older homeowners.

I have a detailed Q & A on Proposition 19, also published by the California Association of Realtors. Let me know if you would like me to send you a copy.

Doug Love is sales manager at Century 21 in Chico and would love to hear from you. Call or text 530-680-0817. Email dougwlove@gmail.com. See more columns at lovesrealstories.com.

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at’s d in the door elona, say th re When I walke ok me Barc to Studio Inn, whe es e th Ey in ue en Bl be l’ s O ay n, ly w In al al tu Studio e Studio , and even , the year th et, fell in love m 55 e 19 ey th th to h ug ck el ba ith mot walk thro , complete w ried. “People ar ay m st , es ol nc Inn was built po ing differe ites, a swimm , and their just rooms and su e pool door Th . drai. “That’s or nn A do xt id ne sa ” nt e, ra id au ts ay st ou w re e a and is th ains in it is.” And that e barroom rem ay th t w s e bu er , th ne tim , dgo is tables e for r where ol glory: four-top rite of passag . This is a ba t is ou it ng r, hu ba all its 1950’s “O” Burger, a al ve in an ha r ig ‘75, or de ds in or ki e e th to ed ate on ing, college u ne , yobe r. In lo dimmed light mem a if your parents rede ce. Add andnny! Ju ke nd n la A ta ca t. ep I st use fir en e in ud nc de st si si en e ut /o soacefully r that’s be veat wal Chi neSt eco als, pe ertse of an and the inside y onco ery, I’v testom em en da thut the same grill mth ey ly re cu on th a ite , ed as or fin hy s ok st ac W de ar hi co y s. p s ye e ur t on th Theer21e’st cent e grill to ll ea t in / eraliffl my u’en yom th spdotSh th argu diud ttled NaelHlsotan Lian flavor from th Julo is -in em or r th ed re l se ht ok al he en fig co at ew a sp m er di e ndtcher th 1. Th e soseen gara dy‘6at Sc lae sinc veerit. ! uUphath d ly a d e61yo all their own. ert dion 19d an ther yaisevno l’sck NelLu rg . ers a flavor eInn. reentoan bu an ttl scck e m Li way le th n no ba rn s nt he Ke da ve ge w gi a st as aso e ere’s saetmtie esckanisdal ioeInvin;ttllu aneceofisththeepr udm d at The O. Th Stso ray,bion . ed e am McK e ne Th in’,19w76 entin le to get bore hu er ib t th rnet ss ar e te st po id in e im br w an g , ar re un yofo mtybe , ping pong okBu s It’s damn ne toe! ic es Ise lit bl ta po e ol y. av ad po , le re , re us bat rs le gi for almost erywhe abto ree, , oralthl aff with s er televisions ev Abe orts packages n. , sp io is at ith as w lib O i a e y i-F Th jo , W d en hico free and talk to the at the door, an the oldest bar and grill in C jukebox, and ome on down or C t. e, or ttl sp bo o in p, pr e ta and dress.

Since we ar many beers on every college is in a yellow od.” You gold” with the can also order ll tell you Judy u e’ H Yo ? y. er ac so serving fo St ng al we will “strike r, ro st es ne im ng ow et hi m et r m so he so .” e mot get d for it up as a “pub ant to strike th es, you can't can. In the moo can also sum Marys. If you w far as taste go dy d s oo A an Bl ss s ne ou ui m their fa apart than G to like the much farther be willing to Duffy’s regulars seem I’d t bu y, ar b. After all, a Bloody M best spot for flavor of the word pu e th s nd A y! e British Isle give it a tr NR’s iates from th d by the C tr ce e pa th en ex id y jo ev they en that, as vern. Since its love the word, and Ta s y’ of uff le D ap is st readers, at’s been a en voted 89, it has be ally Irish music th d opening in 19 years, especi an es business for n Bar” 13 tim e al th re ow nt e th ow D r t “Bes es. Still, Scouts. Fo tim b 15 Pu y” ar e e M th Th to “Best Bloody two into a adventurer, you can go e th ne e bi th m way to I wouldn’t co morning eye back and make your a r fo en ” be er has “tomato be has a ch for years ever, Duffy’s back bar, whi g Clam.” in er sp hi om opener. How fr W to choose med, “The s na er ck ni be ding of e multitud l, it is a longstan oice. After al ’t ask me, it ch on D ther ur ge yo to g ’s rn? if that edly tyin what is a tave briquet suppos to st so Ju sy . ea rn ve be ta is a rs. Sure English e mirrored ba the Oxford th to ng di or t Acc ishmen is “an establ drink to that. ks Dictionary, it in dr r he ot beer and for the sale of emises, ed on the pr um to be cons

Down

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e Tave t i r o v a F 's town

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working or not, whether insured or not, all people should take a deep breath and note the seven-month timeframe to apply for Medicare. It encompasses the three months before their birthday, the month of their birthday, and the three months following it.

During this seven-month period, you can sign up for the Medicare plans that are right for you. It’s important to know this and plan for it ahead of time.”

Not Just any December 7th I retired after a 34-year career as an educator. I met with a STRS retirement counselor, left with the information about my monthly pension, and went on into the mystery of retirement. At the time, I was 61 years old, and had full medical care, including hearing and vision. It appeared there was nothing to be concerned about except how to navigate each day. Much quicker than I could have ever expected, four years zipped by, and I woke up one day realizing I had turned 65. My birthday, after all, is in February, so I figured I could just keep on keeping on. Then, as Halloween came into view, so did the commercials— commercial after commercial with fit and beautiful older folks enjoying the time of their retired life. The problem is the music in the background sounded just a bit foreboding, and the text on the screen kept repeating the same threatening mantra— beware the approach of December 7th. As the date grew closer, so too did my anxiety.

How would I sign up? What did I need to sign up for? The questions began to haunt me.

I called a close friend in a total panic as he had already been through the Medicare experience himself. At first, he laughed at my panicked call, and then calmly assured

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me the December 7th deadline did NOT apply to me. He said I had seven months to apply for Medicare–the three months before my birthday month, February, and continuing until three months after, ending in May. After delivering this incredibly useful piece of information, he gave me one more piece of advice—call a counselor. I did just that.

Having been through this confusing experience myself, I now encourage anyone who is approaching their 65th birthday, to call Passages HICAP directly. HICAP is the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program which serves Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Plumas, and Tehama counties. HICAP is a federal and state funded program that provides free counseling to people with Medicare about their benefits, rights and options, and other health insurance related questions. The best part? Highly trained counselors are available to walk you through the whole thing over the phone.

Tatiana Fassieux, HICAP’s Community Resources Coordinator, carries a consumer’s perspective. She shares her experiences over the years and says, “Here’s the deal—folks turning 65 either ignore the age or panic. Some even do both. I would prefer that before turning 65, whether

Once you know, planning isn’t really difficult at all. In fact, there are a number of easy-touse services and tools available which are completely free-of-charge. MyMedicare.gov and Medicare’s “What’s Covered” app are two of these fantastic and totally free tools.

Both the website and the app contain vital information to understanding the various benefit plans and determining which is the best fit for you. Beyond these tools, Tatiana also hosts a number of workshops to answer questions and help guide seniors in signing up for Medicare. Information on these workshops can be found at www.passagescenter.org, on their Facebook page, or by calling (530) 898-6716.

Personally, once I discovered there was such an organization as Passages with trained HICAP counselors, I wanted to be that friend, when someone is looking for answers and in need of a calming voice. Yes, it is true, I probably will start with a giggle or belly laugh depending on the level of panic, but will also be sure to deliver soothing results and proper contact information.

If you have any concerns regarding Medicare, long-term care planning, or other issues dealing with coverage, call Passages HICAP at (530) 898-6716 or email passageshicap@csuchico.edu. Their website (passagescenter.org) ensures, “Whether you are looking for a specific organization to address a concern, need a phone number of a specific program, require assistance in helping to identify problems, or require an advocate to ensure you or a loved one receives the services they need, our professional staff can help you get answers.” You will not regret reaching out to this wonderful group of caring staff and volunteers who are ready to help you navigate these seemingly murky waters.

This project was suppor ted, in part by grant number 90 SAPG0052-01-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Depar tment of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees under taking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.

rizSe! P h s a $ 4,000 C D E TA I L N FOR L I ST E

LOCAL SPONSORS

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WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

Be a Brand New You in 2021

The Closet of Dreams You can hear it in the first few sentences—the passion, the creativity, the empathy, and the good humor. Benny Bassett’s voice paints his personality in words, and that’s just his speaking voice.

Benny’s singing voice is all that and more.

After graduating from Chico High School in 1999, Ben took a path not surprising to those who knew him. A path that, due to his early life experiences, was almost ordained. He chased down his first dream and earned a law degree. This landed him in Chicago where he was an attorney for 10 years. Along the way, a new passion burned, and Ben shifted into a totally new direction, music.

Early in life, Ben learned how to communicate with adults. He was an only child who spent hours with his mom, aunts, and uncles, just listening to them talk. A huge influence in his life was his grandfather, Norman E. Bassett, with whom Ben spent countless hours talking and learning about life. “Talking with my grandfather is where I learned to be able to communicate with people,” he said.

“I talked with adults so much I had no problem talking to anybody later in life.”

Communication became especially important when Ben and his band began touring the U.S. and Europe, eventually racking up over 400,000 miles in one year. They played everywhere—concert halls, bars, restaurants, cruise ships, and

even home concerts. These gigs took them to the British Isles and across The Channel where they did a whirlwind tour of Paris and Brussels, often playing for food and lodging.

“People see this glamorous world of the rock lifestyle, but it is extremely tough to break into,” said Ben. “I’m not rich, but I make a living and pay the bills— and my wife and I are playing music.”

His wife, Amanda, sang accompanying vocals on “Live Where You Love the Sky.” They recorded her in a large closet in their house. Ben expanded it into a small music studio where he records at home, thus “The Closet of Dreams.” It emphasizes Ben’s philosophy of never giving up. Keep following your dreams and write the kind of music you want to write.

Visiting Ben’s web and Facebook pages is the best way to introduce yourself to his music. You can check out his new single “Tired of the Dark,” listen to “These Dreams,” and watch the music video for “Live Where You Love the Sky,” which was filmed in many locations around the U.S., including a brief snippet of Caper Acres in Chico.

For every Ben Bassett here in Chico, there are a thousand young Chico musicians who want to break into the music business. As Ben says, “It’s difficult to ‘make it’ out there. But don’t give up.

You can live your dream.”

WRITTEN BY TIM MILHORN

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To my friends, family, and readers, I discovered this form of poetry in an English journal back in the early 80s and used it so my students could better express themselves. I figured I would do the same. I used it with a group of seniors on that 9/11. Once we took time to write and reflect, we walked down to an elementary school’s 5th grade classroom and shared our poems. We then helped them write theirs. Like the experience that day, I found something soothing in putting my thoughts on paper and sharing with you. I also cling to people who are way more intelligent than me—like Kurt Vonnegut.

I do not understand How wearing a mask and wearing a seat belt are not the same.

How a misdemeanor can act as a deterrent.

Why sports are more important than the risk to play them.

But most of all, I do not understand Divisiveness. The overwhelming tendency to cause disagreement or hostility between people. From boardrooms to dinner tables, news outlets and political pundits, the word is rampant. History has repeated this sorry tactic from the beginnings of keeping track of its unwanted mystery. I wonder if it just is, meaning we are pre-wired to connect and divide as if by some weird whimsical calling from above, or below.

What I do understand most Is the innocence of children, coupled with their sharp and kind minds. These minds are innate, shaped in households, and put on display at so many different places and times. After my fiveyear-old grandson had a bit of a messy time sitting down to pee, my nine-year-old grandson, following what was being talked about by the adults in the room, pipes in with, “You know you’re trying to talk to someone who has just peed into the back of his pants while sitting on the toilet seat.” As my daughter, Jess, says, “Follow the babies.”

I’m unsettled Not a hungry baby placed in the crib for the first time unsettled.

Not a junior high student whose seating chart placed them in the front row unsettled.

Not the unexpected three A.M. phone call unsettled.

Not unsettled like finding a picture with your soulmate in somebody else's arms, who you know.

But just uneasy Uneasy about what my temperature and other symptoms will be with every new wake up.

Uneasy about how humans are treating humans.

Uneasy with gloomy thoughts and vexing feelings, things will worsen before the shifting wind.

I will leave you with this: Kurt Vonnegut: Advice for the Young “It is a tragedy, perhaps, that human beings can get so much energy and enthusiasm from hate. If you want to feel ten-feettall, and as though you could run a hundred miles without stopping, hate beats pure cocaine any day. Hitler resurrected a beaten, bankrupt, half-starved nation with hatred and nothing more. Imagine that.”

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